Dust Revenant
Large Undead, Neutral Evil
Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 172 (15d10 + 75)
Speed: 40 ft. (walking), 60 ft. (shadow glide: The Dust R
Challenge Rating: 9 (5,000 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 14 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 18 |
Saving Throws: Strength +9, Constitution +10, Wisdom +8, Charisma +9
Skills: Stealth +7, Intimidation +9, Deception +9, Perception +8
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant; damage from radiant sources is doubled against the Dust Revenant.
Damage Resistances: Necrotic; it takes half damage from necrotic damage.
Damage Immunities: Poison; the Dust Revenant is immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Truesight 30 ft.; the Dust Revenant can see through illusions and see the true form of creatures and objects within its range., Passive Perception 18
Languages: Understands Common and Infernal but cannot speak.
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Dust Revenant is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The Dust Revenant has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Minor Illusion, Chill Touch, Thaumaturgy*
1st level (4 slots): *Disguise Self, Devil’s Sight*
2nd level (3 slots): *Mirror Image, Darkness*
3rd level (3 slots): *Fear, Phantom Steed*
4th level (2 slots): *Greater Invisibility, Phantasmal Killer*
5th level (1 slot): *Cloudkill*
The Dust Revenant often casts *Darkness* before combat to obscure vision, creating an advantage for its ambush tactics. It may use *Fear* to disrupt groups of foes or *Phantasmal Killer* to target individuals it can isolate, further utilizing its *Maddening Whispers* to unnerve enemies while maintaining the upper hand. The Revenant’s use of *Cloudkill* allows it to create an area filled with choking dust, reinforcing its theme of despair and hopelessness.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Dust Revenant makes two attacks: one with its Spectral Grip and one with Maddening Whispers.
Spectral Grip: Melee Spell Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d8 + 5 necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be grappled. While grappled, the target takes 2d8 necrotic damage at the start of its turn. Additionally, the Dust Revenant gains temporary hit points equal to the damage dealt.
Maddening Whispers: The Dust Revenant unleashes a horrific cacophony of tortured voices within a 60-foot radius. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save: The creature takes 4d10 psychic damage and is frightened until the end of its next turn. On a successful save: The creature takes half damage and is not frightened.
Dust Manipulation (Recharge 5-6): The Dust Revenant conjures a thick cloud of swirling dust in a 20-foot radius sphere centered on a point it can see within 60 feet. The area is heavily obscured for 1 minute. Every creature that starts its turn in the affected area must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or have disadvantage on attack rolls until the start of its next turn.
Haunting Lullaby (1/Day): The Dust Revenant sings a sorrowful melody. Each creature within 30 feet must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save: The creature falls asleep for 1 minute or until it takes damage. The Dust Revenant can use this opportunity to reposition or prepare for its next attack. On a successful save: The creature is unaffected.
Ethereal Escape: When the Dust Revenant is hit by an attack, it can use this reaction to slip partially into the Ethereal Plane, allowing it to avoid the instance of damage and immediately shift to an unoccupied space within 30 feet that is in dim light or darkness.
Ethereal Dash: The Dust Revenant moves up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Whisper of Despair: The Dust Revenant may target one creature it can see within 30 feet. That creature must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 2d8 psychic damage and become frightened until the end of its next turn.
Appearance
Dust Revenant: Physical Appearance Description
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Size and Shape:
The Dust Revenant stands an imposing 7 to 8 feet tall, with a slender yet elongated frame that gives it an eerie, ghostly presence. Its form is somewhat emaciated, hinting at the unnatural aspect of its existence. Despite its height, its body seems to float slightly off the ground, creating an unsettling illusion that it is less solid than it appears. -
Coloration:
The skin of the Dust Revenant is a shadowy gray, akin to the color of ash or soot, resonating with the desolate tones of its environment. The tattered remnants of its clothing are a mottled brown and faded beige, as if once bright and vibrant but dulled by the ravages of time and despair. -
Texture and Surface Features:
Its skin bears a coarse, almost dusty texture, reminiscent of the particles that settle in long-abandoned places. Clusters of spectral dust constantly swirl around it, giving the creature a shimmering, ethereal quality. The entirety of its being seems to absorb light rather than reflect it, enhancing its haunting appearance. -
Facial Features:
The Dust Revenant’s face is obscured by a veil of swirling dirt and dust. Where one might expect to see a nose and mouth, there is only an abyss; an endless hollow where sounds echo eerily. Its eye sockets are dark and sunken, void of any recognizable features but seemingly pulling in surrounding light, hinting at the depth of its dark despair. Instead of traditional nose and mouth features, a faint shimmer of spectral energy can be seen, emitting a low glow that punctuates its haunting visage. -
Limbs and Appendages:
Its arms are long and gaunt, each hand tapering into elongated fingers that end in sharp, claw-like talons, capable of grasping and grappling its prey. These fingers move with unnatural grace, often appearing to beckon or shoo away shadows as the Revenant lurks. Its legs are proportionally long, enhancing its towering form, each foot draped in the frayed edges of its clothing, gliding soundlessly through its haunted haunts. -
Special Features:
One of the Revenant’s most striking features is the cloud of spectral dust that seems to follow it everywhere, swirling in a vortex, creating an aura of darkness around it. The dust can sometimes crystallize, catching the light in a way that gives the appearance of tiny, flickering stars. When it uses its abilities, the accompanying effects amplify its otherworldly presence, causing the dust to glow faintly with ghostly blue luminescence. -
Posture and Movement:
The Dust Revenant moves with a disquieting grace; it adopts a slightly hunched posture that allows it to blend into the shadows seamlessly. Its movements are gliding and ethereal, often seeming to phase in and out of sight. It can shift from a looming figure in the distance to a swift, wraith-like presence that flits between gaps in the debris, making its approach both subtle and sinister. -
Additional Notable Traits:
The Revenant’s ethereal nature is reinforced by the magical energies that occasionally ripple across its form, especially when it uses its abilities. This results in brief flickers of light emanating from its claws and eyes, which serve as markers of its presence in the physical realm. Additionally, a faint, almost inaudible lullaby haunts the air around it, prone to evoke feelings of nostalgia and despair in those unfortunate enough to hear it, deepening the aura of melancholy this creature embodies.
Tactical Information
Tactical Information for The Dust Revenant
Combat Behavior:
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Ambush Initiation:
- Environment Usage: The Dust Revenant uses its knowledge of the battlefield to find advantageous positioning in shadowy areas or behind cover. It will often lay in wait, springing its ambush as characters investigate the area.
- Setting the Tone: Before combat begins, the Revenant can subtly manipulate its environment, raising ambient dust and creating impenetrable clouds that obscure visibility. This is a prelude to battle, unnerving the party.
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Engagement Strategy:
- Initial Attack: The Revenant opens with Maddening Whispers, targeting the majority of the party to inflict psychological damage and fear. It seeks to destabilize teamwork right from the start.
- Concealment: Immediately after using Maddening Whispers, the Revenant will utilize Dust Manipulation to create obscured vision, separating itself from the party. This makes it difficult for ranged attackers to land strikes while melee fighters struggle to pinpoint its location.
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Target Focus:
- Weakness Exploitation: The Dust Revenant will identify injured or isolated characters as prime targets. It exploits fear and despair, using Spectral Grip on them to grapple and sap their strength.
- Psychological Warfare: Between physical attacks, the Revenant will use Haunting Lullaby to put additional party members to sleep, making it easier to manage threats and assert control over the battle.
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Adaptation and Retreat:
- Ethereal Escape: If the Revenant is cornered or its health is low, it will utilize Ethereal Escape to retreat into shadows, repositioning itself for the next ambush while ensuring it avoids damage.
- Luring the Party: While in the Ethereal Plane, it might manipulate shadows to create visual illusions of familiar faces or tormented souls related to the party, luring them into traps or pushing them to act rashly.
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Re-engagement Tactics:
- Reappearing Threats: The Revenant can return to the battlefield in unexpected locations (e.g., platforms above or below). It can re-enter with an attack to catch players off guard, ensuring chaos and confusion continues.
- Endgame Maneuvering: As combat wears on, it becomes more desperate. It might focus on one particular character whom it perceives as the leader of the party, trying to break the group’s morale completely.
Narrative Interaction:
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Role-Playing Approach:
- Speech and Demeanor: The Dust Revenant speaks with the voice of mournful solitude, echoing lost dreams. Its dialogue should reflect the despair of countless souls—the bitterness of hope turned to ash.
- Emotional Manipulation: The Revenant can invoke memories of the characters’ pasts or fears of their future, making it a poignant antagonist. For instance, it might conjure visions of what they have sacrificed or lost along their journeys.
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Interactivity:
- Luring with False Hope: During encounters, it might provide messages of hope, whispering promises of escape, salvation, or even wealth. This lures unwary characters into making decisions that could isolate them from the party.
- Revealing Secrets: The Revenant possesses knowledge of hidden stories and past sorrows. If captured temporarily (through restraints or spells), it might provide cryptic answers, taunting the players with glimpses of their failures or future challenges.
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Environmental Storytelling:
- Haunting Imagery: The Dust Revenant’s presence shifts the environment—the shadows lengthen, and echoes of sorrowful tunes fill the air. Characters might hear the cries of despair emanating from seemingly empty buildings, prompting fear and anxiety.
- Physical Representation of Despair: The interactions the Dust Revenant has with its surroundings should leave a mark—pieces of the environment (broken glass, crumbling facades) blend with the Revenant’s essence, representing the weight of forgotten dreams associated with poverty and loss.
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Emotional Stakes:
- Personal Connection: Encourage players to draw on their backgrounds. For example, if a character has lost a family member or has skeletal ties to the Great Depression, the Revenant could target that to amplify its psychological warfare.
Conclusion:
The Dust Revenant embodies their past not just as a predator but as a reflection of what the heroes might become if they succumb to despair. By weaving both combat tactics and narrative interactions, the Dust Revenant can serve as a daunting foe whose impact resonates beyond the battlefield, challenging players to confront their pasts while fighting for their futures.
